It’s Democratic Kerala Versus RSS

Prominent academics have come down heavily on the barrage of attacks unleashed by the RSS and the corporate media against the State of Kerala in the recent days.

Renowned historian KN Ganesh said in a Facebook post that the coming months will witness a direct conflict between the RSS on the one hand and Democratic Kerala on the other. The reason for this is not murders or attacks on party offices.

"It was Kerala which strongly resisted the "gau raksha" propaganda of the RSS. Even the BJP leaders had to keep silent about the beef festivals organised across Kerala", Ganesh said. "Kerala also stood up against the atrocities unleashed against Dalits and minorities by the RSS all across India."

"Even with continuous efforts, the BJP in Kerala has not been able to move forward even an inch in Kerala from their situation during the 2016 election. This is the state of affairs even when they managed to win UP, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and now Bihar, and votes shifted in their favour in the President, Vice-President polls. Also remember that Kerala is the State with the maximum number of RSS shakhas in India."

Ganesh also mentioned Kerala's resistance against neoliberal policies and the mass protests against demonetisation that occurred in the State. Kerala's advance as a State which has resisted the Hindutva wave politically, culturally and intellectually has thoroughly frustrated the RSS, he said.

“This issue is something that we must discuss on the basis of organisational politics in Kerala. The primary question is whether we need a Democratic Kerala or not. It is certain that Sangh Parivar politics [, if allowed to take hold,] will destroy Democratic Kerala. We will have to take a decision very fast - whether to fight for Democratic Kerala, or with the Sangh Parivar. There is not relevance for any other debate now.”

Economist Venktesh Athreya pointed out that Kerala has one of the lowest crime rates in India.

 “Kerala remains the most advanced among Indian states by a whole set of widely accepted socioeconomic indicators and has a robust democratic culture of debates, discussions and collective action right from Grama sabha onwards”, Athreya said. “In relation to Kerala, the Sangh is playing its usual diabolical games, but it is certainly living in a fool's paradise if it thinks it will get away with these tactics or worse that it can impose President's Rule in Kerala.”, he wrote.

Arun Jaitley was “lamenting how terrible it is when a series of killings occur and the state stands by. It was a perfect description of U.P.”, he said.

“Under LDF, every incident has been promptly responded to by the government through appropriate administrative action as well as public campaigns to promote peaceful democratic functioning. Inadequacies will be there in any state government's functioning and these can be pointed out and corrective action taken”, he added. “It is not always possible for any political leadership to ensure non-retaliation by local, affected persons against violence that they have been a victim of. The point is that the LDF government as also the CPM leadership have been far more responsive to criticisms and have taken prompt corrective action in many instances. The Sangh Parivar, on the other hand, in and out of government, has always unleashed violence on political opponents and in order to promote communal conflagrations. They also target religious minorities and Dalits.”

Economist R Ramakumar, Dean of the School of Development Studies at TISS, Mumbai, said in a post that there is a concerted campaign against Kerala in the national media these days.

 “There is some deep frustration within the BJP/RSS leadership vis-a-vis Kerala”, he said. “Even as they have conquered every other Congress-ruled State one after the other, Kerala has remained firm with the secular forces.”

“Corporate forces aligned to the BJP/RSS have taken over much of the national media. They are on a totally one-sided harangue against the Left. For the CPI(M), this is both a compliment and a challenge. Compliment, because Amit Shah has certified them to be his most formidable intellectual and political enemy. Challenge, because it has to protect its organisation and cadres from the violence and bloodshed that the RSS has unleashed in Kerala”, he wrote.

Ramakumar quoted figures to support his arguments: “Over the years, the CPI(M) has suffered the most in terms of the number of people killed in political violence. Between 1971 and 2017, about 527 CPI(M) workers were killed. On the other hand, all the other parties put together lost about 442 lives. Of these 442, only 185 belonged to the RSS/BJP/ABVP. Now take the last 11 years: 47 CPI(M) workers were killed; 40 BJP/RSS workers were killed; 4 Congress workers were killed. Clearly, the target of attack of every party is the CPI(M).”

Ramakumar ends his post with an appeal to the secular people at large: “Kerala has to be protected from this Hindutva onslaught. If we let Kerala go from our hands, there will be nothing left in the secular edifice to protect. This is the time to ask that famous question: which side are you on?”